Around the State

Special to The Dallas Examiner

DALLAS

Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church, will be inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame by the Trumpet Foundation at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Friday.

Haynes will be honored for his work to combat inequality and social justice in Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond for more than 30 years. He has led his congregation to work with local officials and neighborhood groups to decrease the crime rate in minority communities, fight domestic violence and poverty, address predatory lending, and provide housing, food and clothing for low-income families and homeless individuals. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Haynes along with his congregation adopted a village and created water resources through the construction of wells.

He was applauded by President Barack Obama for the Thr!ve Intern and Leadership program that has employed nearly 100 young Black males during the summer. He has also led his church to donate over a million dollars to HBCUs and over $2 million in scholarship aid to college students.

Haynes will be inducted alongside civil rights figures Dr. Amelia Boynton Robinson (posthumously), Dr. Jamal Bryant, Dr. Jim Holley, The Honorable Gordon L. Joyner and Dr. Raphael Warnock.

DALLAS

Registration is open for the Mayor’s Intern Fellow Program, a paid summer internship program that allows teens who attend Dallas public and charter high schools to gain real-world work experience in the high-growth areas of health care, technology and energy.

“The sad fact is too many young people can’t find summer jobs. And, as a result, they’re missing out on critical opportunities to be personally and professionally successful in the future,” said Elaine Agather, chairman of JPMorgan Chase & Co. The bank recently awarded the program a gift of $175,000. “The Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program is a proven model, and we’ve seen thousands of students blossom as a result of their professional work experience. JPMorgan Chase is delighted to partner with Mayor Rawlings and other businesses on this powerful initiative.”

Although summer is months away, the deadline to sign up at http://www.mayorsinterns.org is Jan. 31. To qualify, students must be a current sophomore or junior at a Dallas public or charter high school and have the ability to work in the U.S. by June 12, 2016. In addition to being 16 years of age by June 12, students must have a 3.0 (85) cumulative GPA, a solid attendance record and a letter of recommendation from campus leadership. They must also attend a full day of professional training.

Applicants who meet the requirements will participate in a highly competitive, real-world job fair set for April 8. If chosen for an eight-week internship, they’ll work full- or part-time positions from June 13 through Aug. 5, at a minimum of $9 per hour. The program concludes with a celebration luncheon.

The program is facilitated by Dallas nonprofit Education Is Freedom. For more information, visit the website or call 214-871-0783.

DALLAS

More students in the Dallas Independent School District will be able to enjoy nutritious smoothies as a breakfast option due to a $54,390 grant from Dairy MAX, a non-profit dairy council.

The grant will be used to purchase smoothie machines for six high schools as Dallas ISD’s Food and Child Nutrition Services Department works to add reimbursable smoothies to the breakfast menu option at all high schools. The smoothie batter is made at the FCNS Central Kitchen and does not contain preservatives, sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Instead, the recipe includes pureed apples, fruit and low-fat vanilla yogurt. Flavors will include strawberry, blueberry, peach, sweet potato, pumpkin and tropical.

Students will be able to pick up the smoothies at kiosks and enjoy them on their way to class in the mornings. FCNS expects to increase student participation at breakfast by serving this refreshing nutritious breakfast option. The program is expected to be phased in this school year.

DALLAS

The Dallas Black Dance Theatre will perform at the International Association of Blacks in Dance 28th annual Conference and Festival in Denver, Colorado, Jan. 20 through Jan. 24.

The DBDT professional company, DBDT II, and DBDT Academy Allegro ensemble will perform during the five-day conference, celebrating dance by people of African ancestry or origin. This event represents the broadest gathering of Black dance professionals in the United States and internationally; including executive directors, artistic directors, company managers, choreographers, artists, presenters, teachers, historians, educators, funders and agents.

DBDT founder Ann Williams is a founding member and second vice chair of the IABD. She will participate in a panel discussion of living dance-industry legends representing different regions across the United States.

“The International Association of Black Dance started out as an organization of five Black women who operated dance companies sharing their resources, successes and challenges, but it has grown into so much more than that,” Williams explained. “Now our organization attracts participants of all races, genders and ages with a common thread of working to improve and strengthen the African American dance industry.”

More than 30 dance companies from around the world will convene at the international dance conference, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater of New York, Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre has participated in the dance conference since 1988 and has hosted the event six times.

During the five-day conference and festival, participants will receive professional development through dance workshops, panels and master classes designed for all dance levels – student through professional.